Newbie to UV Flatbed Printers

[CreoleCuisine]

My company may or may not invest in a flatbed printer later this year.

I'll start by saying we are NOT a print shop. I work for a family owned business that owns 30 restaurant and venues in New Orleans, and we print everything in-house (menus, rack cards).
I use a Ricoh 7210 and have no experience with a flatbed printer.

We were initially given the Xante X-55 as an option by our Ricoh dealer. However after reading other forums, looks like Xante has some issues.
The flatbed would be for printing our a-frame signs that stand on the sidewalk. Coroplast and foamcore mostly. But I would like the machine to print on a variety of substrates.
The printer would not be used every day. Perhaps more of a once/few times a week situation, to sometimes not at all. So the printer will have to be ok sitting for a while and not cause any issues. Low maintenance is also key.

Can anyone suggest a different brand I can look into in the meantime?
Does anyone know of some videos or presentations I can watch to get ahead of learning about flatbeds?

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

Xante is just a $5k printer with 6-10x the price tag when it comes to their flatbeds.

 

[Humble PM]

Ricoh has very limited imagination when it comes to product names, like the 7210, or the 7210

 

[scox]

A Flatbed seems a bit of overkill for what you are describing, and not using them everyday would still mean daily maintenance especially if you are running white ink. If you have the space for a table to lay your vinyl on your substrate I'd think something like a Mimaki UCJV (or whatever preferred brand) would offer you more options and bang for your buck. You would be able to do your signage, banners, window treatments and even stickers. They tend to have better auto maintenance features as well so sitting for a little bit isn't as big an issue. Also significantly lower investment over a quality flatbed.

 

[victor bogdanov]

Get an application table and an Epson 40600. You will have a very reliable/capable set up for around 20k , a decent flatbed will cost you much more and wont like sitting

 

[StarSign]

How many signs will you be printing? I would look hard at the ROI.

 

[White Haus]

I'll keep my comments to myself regarding whether members like this should allowed on an industry forum...........

How much are you currently spending annually on signs? Do you have a 1500-2000 sqft space to essentially open a print shop in, and capable staff to run said print shop?

Doesn't sound like a logical purchase to me but what do I know, I own 1 sign shop and not 30 restaurants.

 

[CreoleCuisine]

I'll keep my comments to myself regarding whether members like this should allowed on an industry forum...........

How much are you currently spending annually on signs? Do you have a 1500-2000 sqft space to essentially open a print shop in, and capable staff to run said print shop?

Doesn't sound like a logical purchase to me but what do I know, I own 1 sign shop and not 30 restaurants.

as a wise man once said ... "ill keep my comments to myself" regarding people who leave crappy replies to someone looking for help.

 

[Boudica]

as a wise man once said ... "ill keep my comments to myself" regarding people who leave crappy replies to someone looking for help.

Try it some time - I mean keeping your crappy comment to yourself.
This is a forum for professional sign makers - not for a restaurant chain to find ways to undercut a professional sign shop. So if your bent that people don't want to help you, now you know why.

 

[CreoleCuisine]

Try it some time - I mean keeping your crappy comment to yourself.
This is a forum for professional sign makers - not for a restaurant chain to find ways to undercut a professional sign shop. So if your bent that people don't want to help you, now you know why.

ladies and "gentlemen" i present ... "that guy"

 

[CreoleCuisine]

ladies and "gentlemen" i present ... "that guy"

Try it some time - I mean keeping your crappy comment to yourself.
This is a forum for professional sign makers - not for a restaurant chain to find ways to undercut a professional sign shop. So if your bent that people don't want to help you, now you know why.

Let me ask you a question ... if you needed legal advice would you go to a law student or a lawyer who has actually been practicing for years? That's all I'm trying to do, asshole. Get some questions answered by people who have been in the business a long time. Gees. You need a drink.

 

[Gino]

I'll add to the issue. You're looking to put your local sign shop(s) outta business by not supporting them. I'll bet some of your best customers are sign shops which have no idea you're doing your own stuff in a little back room.

No idea of what kinda cuisine y'all specialize in, but how 'bout serving up some good old family owned recipes and telling us how to make some meals ?? Describe in full detail. It used to be in the food industry, you're working for pennies on the dollar. Not any more you're not. It's probably mostly a cash business and how many times are the cash registers cleared ?? And now, ya wanna declare more debt by buying toys and writing this sh!t off to make it look even better on what little you do report.

Yep, you're the real deal. Hope I never wonder into one of your restaurants, cause the way you go about your business and things on this site, I'd be afraid of ptomaines or some other parasites roaming around in the kitchen.

 

[Boudica]

Let me ask you a question ... if you needed legal advice would you go to a law student or a lawyer who has actually been practicing for years? That's all I'm trying to do, asshole. Get some questions answered by people who have been in the business a long time. Gees. You need a drink.

I certainly wouldn't lie my way into an industry forum to get free legal advice. You want free advice about what printer to buy - ask a printer sales person.
You seem to miss the point, so I'll just leave it there - you sound too dumb and arrogant to get it.

Mind telling us what restaurant chain your family owns? I'd like to be sure to avoid it.

 

[Gino]

as a wise man once said ... "ill keep my comments to myself" regarding people who leave crappy replies to someone looking for help.

Let me ask you a question ... if you needed legal advice would you go to a law student or a lawyer who has actually been practicing for years? That's all I'm trying to do, asshole. Get some questions answered by people who have been in the business a long time. Gees. You need a drink.

I just noticed some of the wording and I musta missed it the first time around. You don't have a clue on substrates, how to use any of them or which method is suitable for your needs. You don't have any software, but you wanna buy a flatbed. You come here for help and I explained to you a while back, you're not in the sign industry, but I tried to give you help. However, you continue coming back with your silly questions and notions and then start calling people names, putting down their comments..... when they're just speaking the truth. Who are you ??

If I wanted some FREE legal advice, I'd go to a student. If I was willing to pay for it, I'd go to a full-blown professional lawyer.
Based upon your own example..... you wanna go to the professional lawyer, practicing for years and expect FREE advice ?? Who the flyin' f*ck are you trying to kid ??
Gees...... you need your 6 o'clock feeding.

 

[Boudica]

ladies and "gentlemen" i present ... "that guy"

"Guy"?!

 

[Gino]

I think creole has left the building. Time to go make some pizzas in the back room while printing out tomorrows specials.

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

I was told this was now a place for crappy replies.

Buy a Canon flatbed, it'll cost as much as a small house and I will happily drive down to pick it up for $1200 after it dies a painful death sitting in a garage with no climate control. I will then tear out all the expensive parts and make it into a snazzy looking Chinese UV printer.